Σελίδες

Monday, 13 April 2015

Russia lifts ban on missiles delivery to Iran. The White House said the decision could raise sanctions concerns

The Kremlin says Russia has lifted its ban on the delivery of a
sophisticated air defense missile system to Iran, the Associated Press
reported Monday, in a move which Iran said helps regional security.
Russia signed the $800 million contract to sell Iran the S-300 missile
system in 2007, but later suspended their delivery because of strong
objections from the United States and Israel. The decree signed Monday by President Vladimir Putin allows for the delivery of the missiles.Iran hailed Russia's decision as a step towards "lasting security" in the region.
"The development of bilateral cooperation (with Russia) and with
neighbouring countries in various fields can be very effective for
lasting stability and security in the region," Defence Minister Hossein
Dehqan said, quoted by state news agency IRNA.

White House

Shortly after the announcement, the White House said the decision could raise sanctions concerns.
Israel also slammed the decision saying that Russia's decision is the
“direct result” of the international community's framework nuclear deal
with the Islamic Republic. “This is a direct result of the
legitimacy that Iran obtained from the emerging nuclear deal,” Cabinet
minister Yuval Steinitz said.Steinitz added that the arms deal
shows that Iran plans to use the relief from economic sanctions to buy
weapons, not improve the living conditions of its people.Israel
has harshly criticized the U.S.-led nuclear deal, saying it would give
Iran relief from sanctions while leaving its nuclear program largely
intact. Israel believes Iran still intends to develop a nuclear weapon.Iran
filed a lawsuit with a court in Geneva seeking $4 billion in damages
for breach of contract, but the court has not issued a ruling. Russia
has insisted that its decision in 2010 to freeze the S-300 delivery was
based on the sanctions the United Nations Security Council imposed on
Iran over its nuclear program. Iran reached a framework deal
with world powers this month that is intended to significantly restrict
its ability to produce nuclear weapons while giving it relief from
international sanctions. The agreement is supposed to be finalized by
June 30. There is no firm agreement on how or when to lift the sanctions.[alarabiya.net]13/4/15